If you notice a gurgling sound when you flush your toilet, wash your hands, or run your bath water, you may wonder if you are at risk for more serious plumbing problems. When you hear gurgling in your pipes, we highly recommend that you identify where the sound is coming from and contact a licensed plumber who can find out what’s wrong and quickly remedy the problem. Gurgling pipes can be caused by problems in the sewer line, clogged drains, a dysfunctional p-trap, or a clogged vent pipe.
Problems in the Sewer Line
A problem with your sewer line can cause your pipes to make gurgling sounds. One way you can tell if your sewer line is the culprit is to turn on the faucet in your kitchen sink and see if you hear gurgling sounds in your bathroom or somewhere else in the house where plumbing fixtures are present. Sewer lines can become blocked by tree roots and other debris. Air or gas bubbles can get trapped in your sewer line due to these blockages, and these can cause a gurgling sound when water runs. If you determine that your sewer line is the problem, you will need to hire a plumber to inspect your sewer line and make any necessary repairs.
Clogged Drains
Clogged drains are another chief reason you will hear a gurgling sound in your pipes. Hair, debris, grease, and other foreign objects will create blockages that cause air or gas bubbles to be trapped in the pipes, and the air and gas bubbles make the gurgling sound you hear. If you hear a gurgling sound when running water from your kitchen sink, this means your drainpipe in your kitchen sink contains the blockage. If you hear a gurgling sound when you run water in your bathroom sink, then your drainpipe associated with your bathroom sink has a blockage. When your drainpipe is clogged, you need professional drain cleaning services from a plumber who will locate the clog and use tools to remove it.
Dysfunctional P-Trap
The p-trap is the pipe that is located beneath your sink that is shaped like either a U or a P. The purpose of the p-trap is to keep unpleasant smells from creeping up through your drains by holding a small portion of water to seal off sewer gases. If you smell foul odors along with hearing gurgling sounds, this is a strong indicator that your p-trap is damaged. If this is the case, a plumber can replace it in short order.
Clogged Vent Pipe
A clogged vent pipe can also be the source of gurgling sounds in your pipes. A vent pipe connects all the pipes in your home, and it is designed to allow air to flow through your drains and up through your roof via the main pipe without disrupting water flow. The vent system can become clogged because of debris falling into the main pipe from the roof. If all your drains have a foul odor coming from them, and you can hear gurgling throughout the house, your vent pipe is probably clogged.
Gurgling in the pipes must never be ignored. If you hear gurgling in your home and reside in the Brighton or Denver area, reach out to us at Royal Services Plumbing, and we will quickly find and fix the problem for you.